At one point during the first quarter over 1600 students were failing at least one class, citing a lack of motivation among other factors; this was cut down to around 700 by the end of the quarter, Principal Mike Hinze said.
During the first quarter of the school year there was a crisis with students failing classes. “Of course that is a bad situation,” Hinze stated. “We are all concerned about the number of failing grades we are seeing. Having an F is bad for everyone.”

Students and teachers alike cited a lack of motivation as a leading cause to the failing grades, such as Sophomore Jade Caldwell, who stated, “Unmotivation, and so much work given day to day.”

Some teachers such as Social Studies teacher Eric Calland stated,“The biggest thing I’ve heard from students is that they get easily distracted when they are home. Sometimes it’s really hard to just get started.”

To help resolve this issue all teachers accepted late work through Monday, Oct. 19, Hinze stated in a Schoology post that teachers would be ready to work with students to create a path to passing grades. 

Calland stated that his students have every opportunity to get things handed in for full credit. 

Students weighed in on what their teachers did to help boost grades. Senior Jillian Robinson-Voigt commented about what her teachers did to help improve grades. “Some stopped assigning work on our off weeks, and that helped a lot,” Robinson-Voigt said.

“Most of my teachers allowed us to turn in important work or quizzes late,” an anonymous* senior stated.

It wasn’t just teachers doing all of the work; students also had to act to boost their grades. “I just worked through what was assigned and things turned out well in the end,” Senior Blaze Moseley stated.

 “I turned in those [late] assignments and tried to work through more as I felt comfortable. I ended up with better grades than I expected,” the anonymous* senior stated.

For over half of the students who were failing classes, deadlines being pushed back, and late work being turned in were enough to raise grades. However, for around 700, it was not enough.  Students failing classes now cite the same reasons as last quarter.

During the first quarter Robinson-Voigt stated, “I think there’s a bit much for a workload when students are at home.” And, now during the second quarter, “The same as the first quarter but now there’s less motivation,” she added.

Caldwell also cited this factor for the failing grades. “There’s no motivation to do work,” Caldwell stated. 

Many other students seem to agree with this, as the most highly ranked comment on the student thought-exchange survey shared on Schoology was, “We’re feeling unmotivated. I know this is typical, but right now there’s no other reason for me to do my work except for grades and getting it over with.” 

The district and school have taken measures to keep grades up and ensure that there won’t be another failing crisis at the end of this quarter. 

Superintendent John Kellogg stated in a Schoology post, “We’re working with teachers at the secondary level to examine concerns students expressed about the current amount of school work they’re being asked to complete.”

Teachers from different departments commented on what they are doing to help students keep passing grades. “We have discussed having students do less work while they were at home,” English teacher Sarah Detrick stated.

“I was giving three assignments to do, now it’s about two, and I’ve trimmed the number of problems within that. I also give them until Sunday so if they need the whole weekend they have the whole weekend,” math teacher Reston Randall stated.

“I give students an opportunity to retake tests. As an educator, I care about the students’ mastery of the material,” science teacher Dustin Few commented. “I will take the online work late, and give them opportunities to do the work while in class. This has all helped to get students’ grades up in quarter two.”

Students commented on what they are doing differently this quarter as well to help keep their grades up. “I’m trying to work through more, it ain’t working. I signed up for blended next semester because this pacing isn’t working,” Moseley stated.

“I am trying to apply myself more and work out strategies for online weeks,” an anonymous* senior stated.

*These students chose to remain anonymous because they did not want to disclose that they were failing classes, the Scribe honored their request for academic privacy.